Waterbirds 3 (Walking) - Les oiseaux aquatiques 3 (marcheurs)

-This gallery shows photos of all but six of the 56 species of walking Waterbirds 3 (shorebirds and waders mainly) that have been recorded in the 5 counties birding circle. All 50 species with photos appear in the alphabetical order of the French names (in parenthesis here): Avocet (avocette), bittern (butor and Petit Blongios), coot (foulque), crane (grue), dowitchers (bécassins), dunlin (bécasseau), egrets (aigrette and héron), gallinule (gallinule), godwits (barges), herons (aigrettes and herons), ibis (ibis), killdeer (pluvier), knot (bécasseau), night-heron (bihoreau), phalaropes (phalaropes), plovers (pluviers), rails (râles), redshank (chevalier), ruff (combattant), sanderling (bécasseau), sandpipers (bécasseaux, chevaliers and maubèche), snipe (bécassine), Sora (Marouette de Caroline)), stint (bécasseau), stork (tantale), turnstone (tournepierre), whimbrel (courlis), willet (chevalier), woodcock (bécasse) and yellowlegs (Grand Chevalier and Petit Chevalier). Among other items, basic information is given under each photo: species name, date and location, and the species relative abundance status by season in the 5 counties birding circle. A map of the birding circle can be found at this link: http://bit.ly/jbFwfT

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I- Categories of the Species Relative Abundance in the 5 Counties Birding Circle

COMMON, likely to be seen daily; present in large numbers, or in lesser numbers but widely distributed. Easily found in proper habitat.

UNCOMMON, not expected to be seen every day. Its presence is occasional, and always in low numbers and/or very locally distributed; flocking species can sometimes be more numerous. Found with some effort in proper habitat.

RARE, present annually or nearly so, often in very low numbers and/or in a few areas only. Usually hard to find.

VERY RARE, usually completely absent; few records exist.

EXTREMELY RARE, very few records exist. Not expected to occur again for many years. An exceptional sighting.

VARIABLE, abundance is variable; some years common, other years rare or absent.

II - Categories of Nesting Status in the 5 Counties Birding Circle

BREEDS, species has bred.

POSSIBLY BREEDS, species is suspected to have bred, however confirmation is still required.